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In January, Hensarling chose as the panel’s staff director, Shannon McGahn, his former communications director from when he led the House Republican Conference.

Hensarling has demonstrated a careful and controlled style throughout his congressional career, including during his stint as head of the Republican Study Committee.

“Hensarling thinks it’s important that the party’s messages not be muddled by someone that hasn’t given the issues as much thought as he has,” said Sam Geduldig, a lobbyist who previously worked for former Financial Services Committee Chairman Mike Oxley (R-Ohio). “He knows that all it takes is one guy on TV shooting off at the hip … to make the party look more disorganized and not cohesive.”

But this strategy could be challenged when the committee begins focusing on drafting legislation later this year.

Hensarling has made clear through a series of hearings that he intends to move a bill though the committee that would address what to do about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well the Federal Housing Administration. But GOP members from states like California may not be as eager as the chairman to get behind a bill that greatly reduces the government’s role in the housing market if they fear it will make it harder to get a mortgage.

“I don’t think he’ll make the mistake of introducing a bill before he has his ducks in a row,” one banking lobbyist said.

The terrorism risk insurance program is expected to be reauthorized by the end of next year, another area in which Hensarling’s message of limiting the government’s role in markets may make some GOP panel members uneasy.

Some Republican members on the committee, including New York GOP Reps. Peter King and Michael Grimm, are pushing to extend the program, but Hensarling has made clear that it is not a top priority for his committee.

“Not all his members are with him on things like [the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act] and flood insurance and [Government Sponsored Enterprises] reform,” noted one financial services lobbyist. “[When as] chairman you have some significant policy differences with your own members, it would make sense to make sure that they’re not all going off in their own direction.”

Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) acknowledged that Hensarling’s effort to build unity among the GOP members has slowed down the legislative process with regard to a housing bill. But he emphasized that he considers the focus on maintaining unity a strength.

“We’re in May, and we haven’t seen a bill introduced yet,” Stivers said. “But the goal here is to pass something — not just through the committee but the House floor and hopefully, get some momentum and move it through even Senate approval. So if that’s the goal, it’s important to take the time to build a consensus.”